the public
noun
: the people of a country, state, etc.
the American public
The beach is open to the public.
The general public is in favor of the law.
Members of the public called for the mayor's resignation.
Examples of the public in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The structure will open to the public, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sunday.
—
City News Service, Daily News, 16 Apr. 2026
The board has also contemplated devising an explanation or message for the county’s website detailing to the public the reason for the changes.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
After OpenAI captured the public imagination with ChatGPT’s 2022 launch, Google faced questions about its leadership in AI.
—Andrew Ng, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
The new space will open to the public in 2027, with an aim of creating a physical and cultural infrastructure for literary translators, and the readers who support their work.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the public
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City News Service, Daily News, 16 Apr. 2026
The board has also contemplated devising an explanation or message for the county’s website detailing to the public the reason for the changes.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
After OpenAI captured the public imagination with ChatGPT’s 2022 launch, Google faced questions about its leadership in AI.
—Andrew Ng, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
The new space will open to the public in 2027, with an aim of creating a physical and cultural infrastructure for literary translators, and the readers who support their work.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the public
Cite this Entry
“The public.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20public. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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